Cave Rafting
Our third day at New Zealand saw us at Greymouth, registering for Dragon's Cave Adventure or Black Water Rafting. I was initially shocked by the fees which was $135 per person, but since it was something very new and unheard of in most countries, we decided to try it out inspite of the cost. We were to report at the Dragon's Office by 8:00 am. We reported alright unable to visualise what the next 5 hours held in store for us. Our guide, Pete introduced us to the rest of the team that was going with us. The team consisted of 2 Indians (us), 2 Brits, 3 Aussies and 1 Scott. It was a Honeymoon special for the British couple, which made it more interesting for us!
We were given all our gears and wearing the thermals, jumpsuit etc made me feel like I was going on some major mining project. The first step to check if we were physically fit to undertake the adventure was to climb onto the age-old truck without any help, which all of us accomplished with some difficulty considering we were carrying about 5 kilos over our weight in terms of gear. We were escorted from the city office to a place deep rooted in the forests, outskirts of Greymouth. We were totally cut out from civilization. The initial stage consisted of walking through a dense rain forest with numerous water holes and loose mud. It was amazing how these people had built a walking trail on such terrain where it was difficult to even stand steadily.
After about 30 minutes of walking, we came to the entrance of the cave where we would be spending the rest 3 hours. There was a nice stream of water running into the cave and there were a number of potholes. At this point, our guide announced that he had a surprise for the honeymooners! He brought out a veil and a bow for the bride and the groom respectively and asked them to wear it. They had some romantic pictures taken and the groom had to also remove the band from the bride's thigh. A typical Christian wedding in a cave. Wonder if anybody has attempted a real wedding in the cave, considering people have been adventurous enough to tie the knot while Bungee jumping!!!
After this we were allowed to wear our helmets with the miner's lamp fitted to it. The darkness of the cave ahead gave us all the creeps. Once inside we were given a choice of 2 entries - an easy way and a really, really tough way. As usual I took the easy path and thanked my stars for choosing it after hearing the ordeals faced by the people who took the tougher path. The easier path consisted of walking on water, where you didn't know the depth until you put your leg into it. The depth varied from knee-length to almost 6 feet. If this was not scary enough, the tougher passage had a tunnel carved out in rocks filled with darkness, where you had to crawl to move ahead. The size of the tunnel was too small, and a claustrophobic person could be intimidated by just looking at it. I believe there were puddles of water here and there and people had to put their head or hands into it to move ahead. Now you know why I was thanking my stars for choosing the easier path!
Once well inside the cave, we were advised to have atleast 3 points of contact with the rock, which meant that at any given time either 3 of our limbs had to be in constant contact with the rocks lest we fell and broke our bones. After this came a swimming test. There was this long pit filled with water, which had to be crossed by swimming across it or doggypacking. Since I am no swimmer, I did the doggybacking (which was almost walking) and was the last. After crossing that hurdle we came to a place where we had to jump into a deep hole gushing with water from a rock well above. We were supposed to swim to an extent and get out of the hole. I still do not know what the depth of that pit was or how I agreed to jump into it. All I remember was after I jumped, I drowned for a bit, drank some fresh water through my nose and mouth and threw my hands up in panic. Luckily the guide saw me and brought me back to life. The rest of the team began cheering for me commending me for the bold step. Only I know how bold it was!!!
After the jumping adventure, we were given some tyre sort of thing to float on water. We had to sit on it and row using our limbs and move forward. Our guide announced that all lights be turned off for the next 20 minutes. If the water was not scary enough, the darkness brought me all sorts of frightening visions. As soon as we turned off all our head lamps, we could see glow worms in the ceiling of the cave. They were glowing like those stickers we used as kids and were a wonderful sight. I was having difficulties navigating my float-boat and needed some pushing every now and then, but I was fine after awhile. At the end of it, we came to a nice big rock which was the end point of our entry into the cave. This was the safest point until which people could come by, going beyond it was dangerous even to the professionals. Here our guide brought out some much needed hot chocolate and a chocolate bar to quench a wee bit of our hunger and thirst after the intense activity.
If you thought the journey back to the beginning was easy, you are mistaken as was I. There was a completely different path and this was called the "Lover's Tunnel" and in no way was it any close to being romantic. It was a tiny tunnel through which at any time only one part of our body would enter. We had to slowly crawl through it and climb at some places and put our hands or faces into water puddles. I had never been more thankful to our modern living than when I was here. The journey almost made me feel that I would be trapped inside and would never see light again. With my husband's encouraging words and pushing, I managed to complete the path and once out I felt a lot better. After that, the path was relatively easy and we were soon out of the cave. All of us breathed a sigh of relief, only then did I realise that I was not the only one that was terrified about the whole thing!
We set out back on the trail through the rain forest and came to a stream which was meant to be a water slide. All the team members, except the guide and I, undertook the challenge of the waterslide and slid over it. I had a severe backache and hence refused to go for it. It was good to see the adrenaline rush in the others. After this, we walked back to our truck and set back to the city center. We were soaked in water and were freezing head to toe, yet the body felt hot because of the heart thumping with excitement. Once we reached the office, there was a hot spa awaiting us. All of us jumped into the spa and were offered drinks and muffins. I am not sure if it was the hunger or the relief from coming back in one piece that made the hot chocolate and the muffin taste heavenly.
This was an experience totally new to me and thoroughly enjoyable now that I think of it. The company was even better and made the memory cherishable...
You can find more about this over here Dragon's Cave Rafting
We were given all our gears and wearing the thermals, jumpsuit etc made me feel like I was going on some major mining project. The first step to check if we were physically fit to undertake the adventure was to climb onto the age-old truck without any help, which all of us accomplished with some difficulty considering we were carrying about 5 kilos over our weight in terms of gear. We were escorted from the city office to a place deep rooted in the forests, outskirts of Greymouth. We were totally cut out from civilization. The initial stage consisted of walking through a dense rain forest with numerous water holes and loose mud. It was amazing how these people had built a walking trail on such terrain where it was difficult to even stand steadily.
After about 30 minutes of walking, we came to the entrance of the cave where we would be spending the rest 3 hours. There was a nice stream of water running into the cave and there were a number of potholes. At this point, our guide announced that he had a surprise for the honeymooners! He brought out a veil and a bow for the bride and the groom respectively and asked them to wear it. They had some romantic pictures taken and the groom had to also remove the band from the bride's thigh. A typical Christian wedding in a cave. Wonder if anybody has attempted a real wedding in the cave, considering people have been adventurous enough to tie the knot while Bungee jumping!!!
After this we were allowed to wear our helmets with the miner's lamp fitted to it. The darkness of the cave ahead gave us all the creeps. Once inside we were given a choice of 2 entries - an easy way and a really, really tough way. As usual I took the easy path and thanked my stars for choosing it after hearing the ordeals faced by the people who took the tougher path. The easier path consisted of walking on water, where you didn't know the depth until you put your leg into it. The depth varied from knee-length to almost 6 feet. If this was not scary enough, the tougher passage had a tunnel carved out in rocks filled with darkness, where you had to crawl to move ahead. The size of the tunnel was too small, and a claustrophobic person could be intimidated by just looking at it. I believe there were puddles of water here and there and people had to put their head or hands into it to move ahead. Now you know why I was thanking my stars for choosing the easier path!
Once well inside the cave, we were advised to have atleast 3 points of contact with the rock, which meant that at any given time either 3 of our limbs had to be in constant contact with the rocks lest we fell and broke our bones. After this came a swimming test. There was this long pit filled with water, which had to be crossed by swimming across it or doggypacking. Since I am no swimmer, I did the doggybacking (which was almost walking) and was the last. After crossing that hurdle we came to a place where we had to jump into a deep hole gushing with water from a rock well above. We were supposed to swim to an extent and get out of the hole. I still do not know what the depth of that pit was or how I agreed to jump into it. All I remember was after I jumped, I drowned for a bit, drank some fresh water through my nose and mouth and threw my hands up in panic. Luckily the guide saw me and brought me back to life. The rest of the team began cheering for me commending me for the bold step. Only I know how bold it was!!!
After the jumping adventure, we were given some tyre sort of thing to float on water. We had to sit on it and row using our limbs and move forward. Our guide announced that all lights be turned off for the next 20 minutes. If the water was not scary enough, the darkness brought me all sorts of frightening visions. As soon as we turned off all our head lamps, we could see glow worms in the ceiling of the cave. They were glowing like those stickers we used as kids and were a wonderful sight. I was having difficulties navigating my float-boat and needed some pushing every now and then, but I was fine after awhile. At the end of it, we came to a nice big rock which was the end point of our entry into the cave. This was the safest point until which people could come by, going beyond it was dangerous even to the professionals. Here our guide brought out some much needed hot chocolate and a chocolate bar to quench a wee bit of our hunger and thirst after the intense activity.
If you thought the journey back to the beginning was easy, you are mistaken as was I. There was a completely different path and this was called the "Lover's Tunnel" and in no way was it any close to being romantic. It was a tiny tunnel through which at any time only one part of our body would enter. We had to slowly crawl through it and climb at some places and put our hands or faces into water puddles. I had never been more thankful to our modern living than when I was here. The journey almost made me feel that I would be trapped inside and would never see light again. With my husband's encouraging words and pushing, I managed to complete the path and once out I felt a lot better. After that, the path was relatively easy and we were soon out of the cave. All of us breathed a sigh of relief, only then did I realise that I was not the only one that was terrified about the whole thing!
We set out back on the trail through the rain forest and came to a stream which was meant to be a water slide. All the team members, except the guide and I, undertook the challenge of the waterslide and slid over it. I had a severe backache and hence refused to go for it. It was good to see the adrenaline rush in the others. After this, we walked back to our truck and set back to the city center. We were soaked in water and were freezing head to toe, yet the body felt hot because of the heart thumping with excitement. Once we reached the office, there was a hot spa awaiting us. All of us jumped into the spa and were offered drinks and muffins. I am not sure if it was the hunger or the relief from coming back in one piece that made the hot chocolate and the muffin taste heavenly.
This was an experience totally new to me and thoroughly enjoyable now that I think of it. The company was even better and made the memory cherishable...
You can find more about this over here Dragon's Cave Rafting
posted by Ace of Space at
8/18/2005 03:04:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home